Comparison of scrub and roll brushing techniques in controlling dental plaque in 8-11 year-old children

Introduction: Dental and oral hygiene is one of the most important indicators of general healthcare. Promotion of oral health in elementary school students is very important due to lack of adequate dexterity in carrying out correct brushing movements and education is needed in this age group. The aim of this study was to compare roll and scrub brushing techniques in controlling dental plaque in 8-11 year-old students referring to the Department of Community Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial 215 elementary school students were divided into 8-9 and 10-11 age groups based on age and gender. Half of the subjects in each group were instructed the roll technique and the other half the scrub technique. The subjects brushed their teeth using the techniques instructed. O’Leary’s index was used to register the amount of plaque in each stage and compare the results. Data were analyzed with t-test and co-variance analysis. Results: The scrub brushing technique was significantly more effective in decreasing dental plaque compared to the roll technique (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: Under the limitations of the present study, the scrub brushing technique was significantly more effective in decreasing dental plaque compared to the roll technique in the two age groups evaluated. Older children were more efficient in removing dental plaque. In addition, boys were more efficient than girls in removing plaque. Key words: Dental plaque, Students, Toothbrushing.